Small non-coding RNA profiles in sperms from depressive-like mice induced by chronic unpredictable mild stimulations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex, common, and moderately heritable illness, and accumulating evidence suggests that psychological stress may affect male fertility. Mounting evidence indicates sncRNAs in sperm are sensitive to environmental changes and mediate the inheritance of paternally acquired metabolic and mental traits. In order to know the impact of psychological stress on reproduction and alterations in sperm sncRNAs, in this study, depressive-like mice induced by chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) were used to investigate the impact of psychological stress on reproduction and alterations in sperm sncRNAs. The results showed that CUMS treatments for 4 weeks induced depressive behavior in male mice and significantly affected sperm quality. The results obtained from small RNA sequencing indicated that alterations occurred in the distribution and composition of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), encompassing PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), rRNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs), and tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Furthermore, the offspring of male mice with depressive-like behavior have a significant reduction in survival rate at 21 days after birth, and those that did survive displayed an increased susceptibility to depression. This study provides some theoretical support for understanding the effects of psychological stress on reproduction, as well as information exchange from psychological stimulation to germ cells, and then from germ cells to next generation.